Human Rights

According to the watchdog group Reporters without Borders, Mexico is the world’s most dangerous country to practice journalism. Mexico’s National Human Rights Commission has documented 61 assassinations of journalists and 11 disappearances since 2000. Many journalists face a difficult choice between self-censorship or physical harm. USAID’s cooperation in human rights seeks to prevent abuses such as torture and protect citizens’ rights. We also engage with the public sector and civil society to prevent human rights violations, promote a culture of respect and value for human rights, and adequately respond to violations when they occur.

We support the efforts of the Government of Mexico and Mexican civil society organizations to strengthen human rights by focusing on prevention, protection, and advocacy. This includes:

improving government and civil society’s ability to prevent attacks against journalists and human rights defenders by reducing their vulnerabilities and improving preventive measures

strengthening, expanding, and enhancing protective measures and assistance available to at-risk journalists and human rights defenders in Mexico

improving the ability of civic groups to engage on public policy and secure long-term government commitment to protecting at-risk journalists and human rights defenders

enhancing the capacity of police and prosecutors to investigate crimes while respecting rights in a manner consistent with internationally recognized human rights standards